Mental Health First Aid Mission

Mental Health First Aid Mission was formed in the year 2022, but officially registered on the 29th August, 2024 through the Registrar of Non – Governmental Organizations (NGOs) at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services in Lusaka – Zambia. The organization is composed of energetic people with various backgrounds on mental health – related matters. The motivation of establishing the said organization was as a result of identifying the gaps in mental health – related issues which included;

a.    Increased suicidal/homicidal cases in Zambian communities;

b.    Increased alcohol, and illicit drug use/misuse by young generations;

c.    Stigma associated with mental health – related issues;

d.    Increased stresses, anxieties, depressions, traumas, loss and grief in our communities that need redress;

e.    Inadequate mental health information and services in our communities;

f.     Increased GENDER – BASED VIOLENCES that our children and young adults are exposed to;

g.    All sorts of neglect that expose the children, adolescents, and youth to illicit behaviours such as alcohol and drug abuse, sexual, harassments, etc.

h.    Early pregnancies and marriages.

MISSION STATEMENT:

To enhance mental health awareness, promote individual empowerment, and increase access to treatment and services for personal well – being.

We work to help people by serving mental health, special education, and community support needs through direct service, policy advocacy, and outreach.

VISION:

Our vision is to improve the life standards of those living with mental illness and provide emotional wellness for individual and families as well as we strive to deliver services and support necessary to improve the quality of life for children, adolescents, and youth with mental health – related challenges and addictive disorders.

VALUES:

·      Provide quality mental health services and support through direct outreach; referral services, and partnerships;

·      Recognize, respect, and respond to every individual with human dignity; and

·      Continually create and search for efficient methods to reach and serve the community.

GOAL:

Our goal is to “IMPACT LIVES” by providing high impact oriented, cost effective, and culturally competent mental health preventive information, awareness, and capacity – building in communities.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

·      To raise awareness about the mental health continuum, prevention, reduce stigma and harm associated with mental health – related issues;

·      Promote help seeking behaviours and emotional well – being practices, and prevent suicidal/homicidal through individual education and outreach events;

·      Contribute to the ending of drug use, misuse and all forms of abuse through awareness campaigns and counselling;

·      To provide drug and substance use/abuse, HIV/AIDS/STIs and life skills education to young people so as to attain drug/sexual behaviour change.

·      To advocate and promote social accountability and transparency.

·      Mental Health related issues Advocacy.

·      To advocate for children’s rights, Protection and participation in governance systems to address mental health related issues.

·      To establish child and youth creation centres for mental health.

·      To network and collaborate with organizations with similar objectives.

·      To link the victims of all forms of abuse to appropriate facilities for care and support (Rehabilitation).

·      To facilitate the building of capacities of organization in order to deliver effective, efficient technical support to (MHFAM) and the community.

·      To source for funds for the purposes of achieving the MHFAM aid objectives.

·      To recharge the mind, body and soul through provision of therapy, counselling, and awareness services at all levels.